Massaging implement



Feb. 27, 1934. A M LOCKETT 1,949,316

MASSAGING IMPLEMENT Filed Dec. 8. 1950 Wig llglgyf//j l Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNTE STATES ATENT QFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to that type of massaging implements, such as are used in barber shops, beauty parlors and homes; and it reiates particularly to such implements as are vacuum operated and provide both a suction and massage eiiect by the applicator.

The objects of the invention are to provide an implement of the nature specified so constructed that it will be light in weight, sturdy in construction, possess but few parts, be economical to manufacture and be efcient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of the device to be presently given.

The invention consists of structural characteristics and relative arrangement of elements, which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawings, similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several gures of the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a central vertical sectional View oi an implement constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar View oi a modified form of the implement;

Figure 3 is a similar View of a certain piston and valve employed in the implement and showing a further modification; and,

Figure #i is a transverse horizontal sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Referring, in the first instance, to Figures 1 and 4 of the drawing, there is illustrated a vacuum message implement which is provided with a cylindrical casing adapted to be held by the hand of the operator. The upper end of this casing is closed by means of an upper removable plug or head 11, and the lower end is similarly closed by means of a, lower removable plug 12.

A rubber vacuum massage cup 13 is provided with a threaded stem 14, which is screwed into a central opening 15 in the lower plug or head 12, a lock nut 16 serving to retain it in proper position.

Through the center of the cup 13 and stem 14 there is formed an opening 17, which is in actual alinement with a similar opening 18 in the inner web of the plug 12 and also in axial alinement with a central opening 19 in the upper plug 11. These alined openings serve to receive and guide a valve spindle 23, as will be later described.

Slidably mounted within the casing 10, there is provided a cylindrical piston 20, which is normally maintained in raised position by means of a coiled spring 21 interposed between the lower (Cl. 12S-40) end of the piston and the inner face of the lower plug 12.

The upper end of the piston 20 is provided with a seat adapted to receive a valve 22 Xedly mounted upon a spindle 23, which is slidably guided in the openings 18 and 19, as shown. This valve 22 is normally maintained in raised position, with its upper face in contact with the inner face of the upper plug 11 by means of a coiled spring 24, smaller in diameter than the spring 21, which is interposed between the lower face of the valve 22 and the upper face of the lower plug 12.

The valve 22 and piston 20 receiving interior chamber of the casing 10 are in communication with the outer air through the plug 11 by means of a circular series of apertures 25, and are likewise in communication with the interior of the rubber cup 13 by means of a circular series of apertures 25, which lead through the inner web of the plug 12 and into the central stem receiving opening 15, and communication is thence through the opening 17.

1n the side wall of the casing 10 there is a port 27 leading from the lower portion of the chamber to a duct 23, which terminates in an outstanding stem 29 formed on the casing 10 and adapted to receive the end of a hose or other iiexible connection, not shown, which will lead to any common and well known pump or vacuum creating device of any desired make.

In operation, the parts will be initially in the positions illustrated in Figure 1.

The vacuum creating device is started in action and air is withdrawn from the lower portion of the chamber below and within the piston 20. A partial Vacuum is thus created within such portion of the chamber and within the cup 13, which has been forced or rested cn that portion of a person to be massaged. The cup will thus be caused to gently adhere to the skin of said person upon whom the implement is being used, and the piston 20 with its valve 22 will be drawn down by the outside atmospheric pressure against the action of the springs 21 and 24.

The tension of the inner spring 24 is such that before the spring 21 is fully compressed, the valve 22 will be lifted from its seat on the piston 20, thus admitting the external air from the vupper portion of the chamber through a passagewayin said piston to the lower end of said cylinder, and breaking the partial vacuum which has been created therein. The spring 21 will then force the piston upwardly. the valve 22 will be reseated and the cycle will repeat itself.

These cycles follow one another with great rapidity so that a continuous vibration or" the piston 20 and valve 22 is effected, which vibration is transmitted, in part, to the casing l and to the rubber cup 13.

Thus, it will be seen that the rubber cup, known as the applicator, is caused not only to gently adhere to the skin of the person receiving treatment, but is caused to be vibrated or massaged. As the implement is moved about, this combined suction and vibration will have a very pleasant and beneficial massaging eiect.

In Figure 2, there is shown an implement of the same general type, as already described with reference to Figures l and 4, but in which several niodined forms of construction are employed. In this form or the implement, the casing has the former upper plug l1 a lower plug 12a, the latter being provided with a projecting central stem 142, upon which a rubber cup 13a is secured by means of a lock nut 16e.

A piston 2Ga has its lower portion closed save for a circular series of apertures 20b and serves as a guide for the lower end of a valve spindle 23a upon which the valve 22 is rigidly mounted. This valve 22 is, in the present instance, normally maintained in raised position by means of a coiled spring 24a interposed between the upper face of the plug 12a and a collar 30 mounted or fixed upon the valve spindle 232L at a point below the closure or apertures 2Gb oi the piston 20a.

The lower plug 12a is provided with a central opening 15=l and a circular series of apertures 26St which establish the communication between the cup 13 and the lower portion of the vacuum chamber within the casing 10.

A stem 29a is adapted to receive a iexible air pipe 31 leading to the pump or other vacuum creating device, and is protected by a rubber casing 32.

Other features oi this form of implement are the same as those illustrated and described with reference to Figures 1 and 4, and are indicated by similar reference characters.

In the operation of this form of the invention, when the pump is started, partial vacuum is created in the cup, in the lower portion of the chamber, and within the piston, as heretofore explained with reference to Figure 1, and the piston 2()a and its valve 22 are drawn downwardly. If the compression of the relatively small spring 24a is insuicient to liit the valve 22 from its seat, the bottom of the valve spindle 23a will contact with the upper face of the lower plug 121l and further downward movement of the piston a will withdraw the seat from the now stationary valve 22 and the partial vacuum will be broken, as before, thus permitting the springs 21 and 24a to restore the parts to their original positions.

In Figure 3, there is illustrated a further modification of the valve structure. In this instance, the piston 20a and the valve 22 are the same as shown in Figure 2, with the exception that the valve spindle 23a is provided with a collar 3Wl attached at its lower end, and the valve 22 is maintained in seated position by means of a coiled spring 24h interposed between the upper face of the collar a and the partially closed bottom of the piston 20H. The sole function of this spring is to maintain the valve upon its seat until the spindle 23u contacts with the lower plug 12 or the casing, as it can readily be understood that there is no compression of the spring during the downward movement of the piston and its valve, as has been the case in the forms of the invention previously described.

While the terms upper and lower, and upward and downward have frequently been employed herein and will be similarly employed in the claims, which are to follow, it is to be understood that these terms are purely relative, as the instrument may be held in any desired position whatsoever.

Other changes, modifications and alterations in the shape, form, and arrangement of the parts will quickly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that such variations are to be regarded as forming part of this invention, as long as they fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source of suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing, said upper and lower plugs being ported to permit communication between tlie interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciproca-.ble valve engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, means disposed within the cylinder and so constructed, arranged and cooperating with respect to said piston and valve to yieldingly and normally hold said piston and valve in contact with each other at said seat and in their upper position in said cylinder, and separated from each other` to permit communication between the upper and lower ends of said cylinder through said passageway when said piston is drawn down by suction to the lower portion of said cylinder and in proximity to said exhaust port, and a cup attached to the lower end and in communication with the interior of said cylinder and said exhaust port.

2. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source of suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing, said upper and lower plugs being ported to permit communication between the interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, a combined yielding and reacting means for normally maintaining the valve in its upper position and unseating said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and yielding means for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position with its valve seat in contact with the valve, and a cup attached to the lower end and in communication with the interior of said cylinder and said exhaust port.

3. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source of suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing, said upper and lower plugs being ported to permit communication between the interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and s der and said exhaust lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, a combined yielding and reacting coiled spring for normally maintaining the valve in its upper position and unseating said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, a coiled spring below said piston for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position with the valve seat in contact with the Valve, and a yielding cup attached to the lower end and in corninunic tion with the interior of said cylinder and said exhaust port.

li. A vibra-tory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source of suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing, said upper and lower plugs being ported to permit communication between the iiterior oi the casing and the exterior thereof, a reciprocaole piston witl in and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve spindle guided within the piston, a valve carried by the spindle and engaging the seat and controlling said passageway, yielding roeans for normally maintaining spindle and valve in their upper position and uns-eating said valve when piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and yielding means for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position with the valve seat in Contact with the valve, and a yielding cup attached to the lower end and in communication with the interior of said cylinport.

5. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to source of suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing, said upper lower plugs being ported to permit communication between the interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner oi the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cyli a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a r olprocable valve spindle guided witlTin the piston, a valve carried by the spindle and controlling said passageway, a coiled spring within the piston for normally maintaining the spindle valve in their upper positions and unseating said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and a coiled spring below the piston for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position with its valve seat in contact with the valve, and a yielding cup attached to the lower end in communication with the interior ci said cylinder vand said exhaust por S. A vibratory and messaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source oi suction producing means, upper lower plugs for said casing, said up er and lower plugs being ported to permit communication between the interior of the casing and the ex terior thereof, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lo1 er ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve spindle guided within the piston and having its lower end adapted to strike against tne upper face of the lower closure, a Valve carried by the spindle engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, yielding means for normally maintaining the spindle and valve in the upper position and unseating said 7valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and yielding means for normally maintaining the piston its upper position with its valve seat in contact with the Valve, and a cup attached to the lower end and in communication with the interior of said cylinder and said exhaust port.

7. A Vibratory and niassag og device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near lower end adapted to be connected to a source oi suction producing ine-ans, upper and lower pl '.gs for said casing, said upper and lowr plug being ported to permit communication between the interior of the c .sing and the exterior thereof, reciproca-ble piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating witi -e upper lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocaole valve spindle guided within the piston and having its lower end adapted to strike against the i ce of the lower closure, a valve enaid s carried by 1 tile spindle s ling said passageway, a coiled spr in piston for normally maintaining the spindie and valve in their upper position and ung said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said port, and a coiled spring for normally piston in upper osit-ion with its valve seat in Contact with the Val-ve, and a cup attached the lower end in communication with the interior of said c'linder and s d exhaust port.

8. A vibatory and massaging device, comprisand the exterior of the vacuum cup, a rcciprocable piston within and engaging the inner Tall of the cylider provided with a passageway' communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprccable valve engaging said seat and controlling passageway, a cornbined yielding and reacting means for normally maintaining the val-ye in its upper position and unseating said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and yielding ineans below said piston for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position with its valve sea-t in Contact with the valve.

9. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing havin(T an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source or" suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing and a vacuum cup carried by the lower plug, said upper plug being psf. interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, and said lower plug being ported to permit communication between the interior of the casing and the interior of the vacuum cup, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall maintaining the ."1.

d to permit communication between the of thc cylindrical casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve engaging said seat and controlling said passagen way, a coiled spring for normally maintaining the valve in. its upper position and unseating said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and a coiled spring below the piston and surrounding said first mentioned spring for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position with its valve seat in contact with the valve.

l0. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source of ysuction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing and a vacuum cup carried by the lower plug, said upper plug being ported to permit communication between the upper interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, and said lower plug being ported to permit communication between the lower interior of the casing and the interior of the vacuum cup, a recipn rocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve spindle guided within the piston and having its ower end adapted to strike against the upper face of the lower closure, a valve carried by the spindle at its upper end and engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, a coiled spring surrounding said spindle and reacting against the valve for lifting the valve from its seat and unseating said valve when said piston is drawn down by suction towards said exhaust port, and a coiled spring below said piston for normally maintaining the piston in its upper position.

11. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a cylindrical casing having an exhaust port near its lower end adapted to be connected to a source of suction producing means, upper and lower plugs for said casing, said upper plug being ported to permit communication between the interior of the casing and the exterior thereof, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the casing and provided with a passageway communicating with the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprocable valve engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, means disposed within the cylinder and so constructed, arranged and cooperating with respect to said piston and valve to yieldingly and normally hold said piston and valve in contact with each other at said seat and in their upper position in said cylinder, and separated from each other to permit communication between the upper and lower ends of said cylinder through said passageway when said piston is drawn down by suction to the lower portion of said cylinder and in proximity to said exhaust port, and a vacuum cup attached to the lower end of said cylinder having a chamber in communication with said exhaust port and source of suction producing means.

l2. A vibratory and massaging device, comprising a hollow cylinder having plugs in its upper and lower ends provided with ports to establish communication with the interior of the upper and lower sections of said cylinder with the exterior of said cylinder, and an exhaust port in communication with said lower section and adapted to be connected to a source of suction producing means, a reciprocable piston within and engaging the inner wall of the cylinder and provided with a passageway communicating with the interior of said upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a valve seat on the upper face of the piston, a reciprooable valve engaging said seat and controlling said passageway, means disposed within the cylinder and so constructed, arranged and cooperating with respect to said piston and valve to yieldingly and normally hold said piston and valve in contact with each other at said seat and in their upper position in said cylinder, and separated from each other to permit communication between the upper and lower ends of said cylinder through said passageway when said piston is drawn down by suotion to the lower portion of said cylinder and in proximity to said exhaust port, and means attached to the lower end of said cylinder so constructed, arranged and adapted to out oi the communication of the interior of the lower end of said cylinder from the exterior of said cylinder.

ANDREW M. LOCKEIT.

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